Search

The occurrence of the invasive pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Walbaum 1792) in Greenland was initially described in 2019 using social media to collect data on their presence. In this study we continue data collection through social media and initiate a monitoring program of the Kapisillit River in Southwest Greenland using snorkeling and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding in 2020 and 2021. The Kapisillit River is the only freshwater system in Greenland, where the red-listed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, Linnaeus 1758) is known to spawn. This genetically unique population of Atlantic salmon has been found to decline, wherefore there is general conservation concern that the occurrence of pink salmon at some point can become an additional stressor to the “Kapisillit salmon”. In 2021, pink salmon were present near all larger populated areas in Greenland and likely more abundant than in 2019. From visual observations and using eDNA, the presence of pink salmon was documented in the Kapisillit River in 2021. From the number of individuals observed combined with the spatial distribution of eDNA detections in the river, we suggest that the pink salmon invasion in the Kapisillit River is at an early stage.

Arctic fishes are threatened by climatic change and other anthropogenic stressors, yet information on how such changes impact survival remains scarce. Acoustic telemetry has become valuable for studying aspects of fish ecology, including survival, which is invaluable in understanding potential responses to changing conditions. In Cambridge Bay, NU, we have been using acoustic telemetry to study movements and habitat use of the culturally and commercially important Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Here, we combine acoustic telemetry data and Bayesian multistate mark–recapture models to study the survival of Arctic char from 2014 to 2018 in the region in freshwater and marine/estuarine habitats. We found that survival probabilities were high (>0.87) and models considering two environments (freshwater and marine) perform better than those considering three (including estuarine habitats). Furthermore, the survival in fresh water was higher than survival in marine/estuary environments. Overall, the results of this study further our understanding of important demographic parameters (i.e., survival) for Arctic char in the region, which will be useful in refining fishery management plans for the largest commercial fishery for this species in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding variability in distributions and habitat-use among populations of anadromous salmonids is essential for their sustainable management. Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is an important cultural and socioeconomic species; however, knowledge of their spatiotemporal habitat-use during the marine phase is limited. Here, a large-scale acoustic telemetry array was used to determine intraspecific variation in Arctic char summer marine habitat-use tied to overwintering lake occurrence in the Amundsen Gulf. Arctic char tagged in the ocean migrated to two main overwintering lakes, corresponding to distinct migration corridors and separate patterns of marine habitat-use, with one individual exhibiting among the longest recorded char marine migration to date (∼330 km). Arctic char that undertook longer migration distances initiated travel in the ocean towards fresh water 11 days earlier than those completing shorter migration distances; mean departure days (±SD) 2 August (±8.1 days) and 13 August (±6.8 days), corresponding to migration distances of 252 and 131 km, respectively. These findings identify that Arctic char from different populations can occupy distinct marine foraging grounds within a region, with consequences for variable interactions with fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is a fish species known to occupy diverse habitats within the Arctic region. However, summer habitat use during the juvenile stage of the anadromous form is largely unknown. The present study aims to characterize fry and parr summer habitat preferences. Surveys were conducted by electrofishing, associated with physical habitat characterization on several rivers of the Ungava Bay, Nunavik, Canada. At the microhabitat and station scales (group of microhabitats), fry showed significant habitat preferences for shallow water and slow velocity. At the mesohabitat scale, fry showed a significant habitat selectivity for riffles. This habitat selectivity implies that habitat models can be built to evaluate the potential of habitat suitability for Arctic char fry. However, no significant habitat selectivity was found for parr. Parr size was nonetheless positively correlated with velocity, which was found to be a limitative factor for juvenile habitat use. This first attempt at modeling juvenile anadromous Arctic char habitat in rivers emphasizes the importance of selecting an appropriate spatial scale and reiterates the fact that parr showed relatively high plasticity in stream habitat selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying temporal variation in demographic rates is a central goal of population ecology. In this study, we analyzed a multidecadal age-structured time series of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) abundance in Lake Mývatn, Iceland, to infer the time-varying demographic response of the population to reduced harvest in the wake of the fishery's collapse. Our analysis shows that while survival probability of adults increased following the alleviation of harvesting pressure, per capita recruitment consistently declined over most of the study period, until the final three years when it began to increase. The countervailing demographic trends resulted in only limited directional change in the total population size and population growth rate. Rather, the population dynamics were dominated by large interannual variability and a shift towards an older age distribution. Our results are indicative of a slow recovery of the population after its collapse, despite the rising number of adults following relaxed harvest. This underscores the potential for heterogeneous demographic responses to management efforts due to the complex ecological context in which such efforts take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although intestinal microbial communities from anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in Kitikmeot, Nunavut, Canada, differ depending on the timing and location of capture, determinants of gut microbiota in other wild Arctic salmonids are largely unknown. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequence data, we compared intestinal microbiota from Arctic char to those from a related and sympatric salmonid, lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill, 1818)). Shifts in lake whitefish gut microbial community composition were observed between brackish water and freshwater, similar to impacts of salinity reported previously for Arctic char. Despite these similarities, gut community profiles for the two salmonids differed, with whitefish having higher diversities and increased proportions of taxa affiliated with potential pathogens. Geography seemed to have a greater impact on freshwater whitefish gut microbiota than on corresponding Arctic char. Additionally, microbiota diversity was significantly more affected by feeding behavior in whitefish compared with sympatric Arctic char. As sampled whitefish were at their northern range limits and grew slowly, we speculate that they, and their microbial consortia, could be more vulnerable to certain abiotic and biotic factors than Arctic char, which are well adapted to conditions found in these high latitude environments and have the most northern distribution of any freshwater fish.

The lake ecology of high-latitude fishes is strongly influenced by seasonal feeding opportunities and environmental stochasticity in Arctic environments. Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) populations are prevalent throughout the Arctic and show multiple life history strategies across their range. Unlike Old World populations, the lake ecology of Arctic Charr populations on south Baffin Island remains poorly defined. We examined the comparative seasonal lake ecology of two differing Arctic Charr populations (anadromous and landlocked) in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut. Anadromous Charr showed no evidence of feeding occurring within freshwater once they began seaward migrations. Anadromous Charr achieve sexual maturation at a larger size and younger age than landlocked Charr. Landlocked Charr used more lake habitats than anadromous Charr with feeding opportunities as an apparent influence on habitat selection. Landlocked Charr fed year round. They adopted a cannibalistic feeding strategy in the winter but consumed a variety of prey items in the fall. Littoral habitat was found to be important to all sizes of Charr in both seasons. Smaller anadromous Charr (

Climate change is having myriad effects on Arctic marine ecosystems and food webs. Anadromous Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758), feed intensively at sea during summer. In Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, Canada, there has been a recent increased availability of a forage fish, Capelin. To investigate changes over time in Arctic Char foraging, we assessed Arctic Char trophic niche from 2002 to 2011 using stomach content analysis and stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of muscle tissue from two river/lake systems, Isuituq and Kipisa. We also compared population characteristics by calculating Fulton’s condition factor (K) and by fitting von Bertalanffy growth curves with length-at-age data. Results revealed Capelin were newly present in the diets of Arctic Char in 2011, describing a shift from a primarily invertebrate-based to a fish-based diet. No trend in δ15N over time suggests that the trophic level of Arctic Char has not changed; however, the δ15C for both systems converged in 2011 on a value suggestive of feeding on Capelin. Growth curves and length-at-age analyses suggest that foraging on Capelin may have increased individual growth. Changes in the growth and condition of Arctic Char in this region could have significant economic and cultural implications.

Throughout their range, anadromous Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) support commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries that are important economically, socially, and culturally. However, drivers of interannual variation in survival in this species remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed to quantify the impact of environmental and biological parameters on the survival probability of anadromous Arctic Char near the community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada. To do so, we tracked 183 Arctic Char tagged with acoustic transmitters and used capture–mark–recapture methods to estimate survival probabilities over six years. Annual survival probabilities for individuals was high, varying between 0.79 and 0.88, whereas recapture probabilities varied between 0.64 and 0.90. Interannual variation in survival probability was low and neither the environmental (air temperature and sea ice cover) nor biological (sex) variables influenced survival probability. These estimates suggest that annual survival probability is high for anadromous adult Arctic Char in the Cambridge Bay area, despite clear differences in the ice cover melt date among years. These results further our understanding of the demographic parameters of Arctic Char in the region, which will be important for future assessments of the sustainability of commercial fisheries as well as for predicting population responses to a rapidly changing Arctic.

We analyzed Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) stable isotope ratios and fatty acid composition from two geographically proximal Nunavut lakes, Qasigiyat and Iqalugaarjuit, to determine if anadromous and resident Arctic char occupied different trophic niches. Resident Arctic char had lower δ13C and δ34S, indicative of freshwater feeding, compared with anadromous individuals. Significantly lower δ15N of residents suggests the ecotypes feed at different trophic levels. Significantly wider δ13C and δ15N ranges in residents implied a broader trophic niche or a wider range in baseline prey isotope values. Results also provide further evidence for resident use of the estuarine environment in Qasigiyat. Immature Arctic char occupy a different trophic niche than both resident and anadromous fish within Iqalugaarjuit, but this relationship is less clear in Qasigiyat. Distinct stable isotope and fatty acid profiles indicate that resident and anadromous Arctic char have distinct trophic niches: marine for anadromous, freshwater for resident. Immature Arctic char seem to occupy a distinct niche from both anadromous and resident fish, which likely relates to use of both freshwater and estuarine environments, depending on developmental stage. We show the first evidence of the fatty acid differences and niche segregation between sympatric anadromous and resident ecotypes in Arctic char.

Fisheries managers call for more nuanced understandings of complex interactions between exploitation and environmental variability, especially in data poor settings. We develop a bioeconomic model for the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) out of Nain, northern Labrador, incorporating climate variability into growth. We derive parameters necessary for the bioeconomic analysis through optimization and identify optimal equilibrium conditions for the model with and without climate variability. Accounting for variability results in a slightly higher optimal harvest, fishing effort and stock. We find an optimal effort of 591 fishing weeks and harvest of 156 920 kg for 2014, suggesting that both were below optimal. We further find that increased temperature leads to higher optimal effort and net benefits at steady state. Despite numerous uncertainties, data and knowledge gaps limiting the accuracy of our estimates, this is the first effort to identify the equilibrium harvesting conditions for this currently uneconomic, yet socially and culturally important fishery. The methodology can be applicable to other data-deficient fisheries with similar challenges and unknowns, to advance the understanding of socially optimal harvesting and interactions with environmental variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of global warming and local stressors can have dramatic consequences on freshwater biota. Sediment deposition is an important pressure that can affect benthic species and benthic ontogenetic stages (eggs and larvae) habitat quality. However, knowledge on the effects of sediment in a warming context is lacking. We used a common garden approach to examine the effects of combined exposure to elevated temperature and deposited sediment on early life history traits in offspring of four wild Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) populations, originating from geographically isolated lakes at the southern edge of the species range. We report interactive effects of temperature and sediment, with higher temperature exacerbating the negative effects of sediments on the duration of the incubation period and on the body size – yolk expenditure trade-off during development. Our results highlight that reevaluating the impacts of sediment on organisms under the lens of global warming and at the scale of several wild populations is needed to improve our understanding of how vulnerable species can respond to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Stable coexistence of native and non-native species can occur when non-native species colonize a "vacant niche" or when rapid niche shifts limit the overlap in resource use by native and non-native species. Topics include niche convergence can occur when native and non-native species coexist; and stable isotope niche overlap was the strongest for young-of-the-year individuals.

Acoustic and archival telemetry were used to study the marine movements of 115 anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) at two sites in southern Labrador, Canada, in relation to daily variation in temperature and depth use, body size, and their effects on marine activity patterns. Although evidence varied between locations, Arctic char generally utilized ambient water temperatures available in the upper water column, possibly in aid of physiological processes such as digestion, whereas deeper waters were suggested to be used for feeding purposes. Size-dependent thermal preferences were evident, with larger individuals utilizing cooler water temperatures (8.5 °C) compared with smaller individuals (9.5 °C), a pattern suggestive of ontogenetic changes in thermal habitat use for the purposes of growth maximization. Diurnal patterns of diving activity were interpreted to reflect the vertical migration of prey items and (or) the visual capabilities of Arctic char. Dive duration was dependent on body size and external body temperature with smaller individuals performing shorter dives in colder water temperatures (<1 min at 5 °C) than larger fish (∼2 min at 5 °C), likely to maintain their core temperature and abilities to both effectively capture prey and avoid predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is hypothesized that in diadromous fish, migrations may occur because of differences in the availability of food in marine and freshwater habitats. The benefits of migration to sea may be increased growth opportunities and reproductive output, while the costs may be increased mortality and increased energy use. Here we examine mortality rates of anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in fresh water and at sea over a 25-year period to test these hypotheses. Daily mortality rates were 5–15 times higher at sea than in fresh water, with highest rates for first-time migrants, inferring a clear trade-off between increased mass gain and mortality risk during the sea migration. Descending smolts were caught in a trap at the outlet of the river, individually tagged, and thereafter recorded each time they passed through the trap on their annual migration between the river and the sea. Brown trout females seemed to benefit to a higher degree from migrating to sea than did female Arctic char, probably because of the higher growth rate at sea, and hence higher reproductive output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) migrate back to fresh water in late summer to spawn and (or) overwinter. Upon freshwater entry, feeding is reduced or absent, and movement activity is restricted. While the physiological responses to low temperatures (e.g., growth, metabolism) are understood, specifics of the use of thermal habitat for overwintering remains poorly characterized. This study used acoustic and archival telemetry data from two lakes in southern Labrador, Canada, to study thermal habitat use during the ice-covered period. Results showed that lake-dwelling anadromous Arctic char predominantly occupied a narrow range of temperatures (0.5–2 °C) and used cooler temperatures available within the middle and upper water column. Use of the selected temperatures is likely a strategy that lowers metabolic costs and minimizes energy expenditure, preserving stored lipids for overwinter survival and the energetic costs of preparation for seaward migration. As Arctic char are visual feeders, use of the upper water column is also thought to aid foraging efficiency by increasing the likelihood of prey capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anadromous, resident, and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) differentially experience drift and gene flow, making them ideal for studying incipient divergence. We investigated genetic divergence within and among char occupying landlocked and sea-accessible sites in Labrador, Canada, using 11 microsatellites. Unlike anadromous char, landlocked char were highly genetically differentiated. Genetic subgroups were detected within landlocked and sea-accessible sites. Within Ramah Lake (a sea-accessible site containing two subgroups), one subgroup matured at a small size, and both subgroups had equal proportions of males to females. These findings refute residency as a sneaker male tactic and instead suggest the presence of reproductively isolated resident and anadromous char. Subgroups demonstrated equal frequencies of Atlantic and Arctic lineage mtDNA haplotypes, suggesting their genetic differences were not due to allopatry during the last glacial maximum. Our results are therefore consistent with the sympatric genetic divergence of resident and anadromous Arctic char morphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study found empirical evidence supporting the 'growth-survival' paradigm in the marine phase of Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout ( Salmo trutta). The paradigm postulates that larger or faster-growing individuals are more likely to survive than smaller or slower-growing conspecifics. The study employed long-term (25 year) capture data from a trap in the River Halselva in Norway during annual migration between marine and freshwater environments. Similar results were found for both species. Growth during the sea sojourn and return rates were positively correlated, linking increased survival with growth. Specific growth rate, survival, and duration of the sea sojourn of first-time migrants were correlated, suggesting that common environmental conditions at sea influence annual fish productivity. Freshwater and sea temperatures affected migration timing, whereas annual variation in marine growth and survival did not correlate with temperatures. This suggests that other factors such as variation in energy intake were the main source of annual growth variations. Moreover, the marine growth rate of the two species may signal annual overall fjord ecosystem production, especially related to their main prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grey wolf ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most widespread large carnivores on Earth, and occurs throughout the Arctic. Although wolf diet is well studied, we have scant information from high Arctic areas. Global warming is expected to increase the importance of predation for ecosystem regulation in Arctic environments. To improve our ability to manage Arctic ecosystems under environmental change, we therefore need knowledge about Arctic predator diets. Prey remains in 54 wolf scats collected at three sites in the high Arctic region surrounding the Hall Basin (Judge Daly Promontory, Ellesmere Island, Canada, and Washington Land and Hall Land, both in northwestern Greenland) pointed to a dietary importance of arctic hare ( Lepus arcticus Ross, 1819; 55% frequency of occurrence) and muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann, 1780); 39% frequency of occurrence), although we observed diet variation among the sites. A literature compilation suggested that arctic wolves ( Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) preferentially feed on caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and muskoxen, but can sustain themselves on arctic hares and Greenland collared lemmings ( Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823)) in areas with limited or no ungulate populations. We suggest that climate change may alter the dynamics among wolves, arctic hare, muskoxen, and caribou, and we encourage further studies evaluating how climate change influences predator-prey interactions in high Arctic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has proven to be a valuable tool for detecting species in aquatic ecosystems. Within this rapidly evolving field, a promising application is the ability to obtain quantitative estimates of relative species abundance based on eDNA concentration rather than traditionally labor-intensive methods. We investigated the relationship between eDNA concentration and Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) abundance in five well-studied natural lakes; additionally, we examined the effects of different temporal (e.g., season) and spatial (e.g., depth) scales on eDNA concentration. Concentrations of eDNA were linearly correlated with char population estimates ( = 0.78) and exponentially correlated with char densities ( = 0.96 by area; 0.82 by volume). Across lakes, eDNA concentrations were greater and more homogeneous in the water column during mixis; however, when stratified, eDNA concentrations were greater in the hypolimnion. Overall, our findings demonstrate that eDNA techniques can produce effective estimates of relative fish abundance in natural lakes. These findings can guide future studies to improve and expand eDNA methods while informing research and management using rapid and minimally invasive sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier studies have shown that the carotenoid pigmentation in Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758)) is connected to stress responsiveness. These studies also suggested that the pigmentation is dynamic and can change quickly. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the effect of a short-term stressor on the number of carotenoid spots before and after certain time intervals after the stressor. Individuals were exposed to a net-restraint stressor for 1 min and then assigned a recovery time of either 0, 1, 2, 8, or 24 h. Photographs were taken before the stressor and after the recovery time to count carotenoid spots and to look at the relative changes over time. Behaviour during the stressor and cortisol levels after the assigned recovery time were evaluated. We found that the change in spottiness, measured as the ratio of spots after and before the stressor, changed with recovery time on the right side but not on the left side. Furthermore, left-side spots were correlated with struggling activity. Thus, carotenoid pigmentation seems to be lateralized, with more static spots on the left side connected to stress responsiveness, whereas spots on the right side seem to be more dynamic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used an array of fixed acoustic receivers ( N = 42) to track the summer marine movements of 121 anadromous Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) equipped with acoustic transmitters at three locations in the Cambridge Bay region, where commercial and subsistence fisheries target the species. The timing of transitions between salt and fresh water was influenced by the putative river of origin of tagged individuals, but not by their size or sex. Females, however, were more likely to remain proximate to rivers where they were tagged throughout the summer. A majority of fish migrated west from their rivers of origin, primarily moving between estuarine environments. Individuals occupied estuaries for several days between bouts of marine movement, and these periods of residency coincided with spring tides in some estuaries. We also recorded increased numbers of detections on receivers located less than 1.5 km from the coast, indicating a preference for nearshore habitats. Finally, we report evidence of extensive stock mixing throughout the summer, including at known fishing locations and periods, a finding with implications for fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolomics involves systematic study of low-molecular-mass metabolites in cells, tissues, or biofluids and is nowadays widely applied to characterize the physiological status of aquatic organisms under a set of conditions, such as disease and toxin exposure. Liver, an important metabolic center in the fish body, is often used for metabolomics analysis. Compared with the whole fish liver, the proportion of liver sample needed for metabolomics analysis is relatively small. The homogeneity of metabolites in liver is thus an important issue, especially for comparative studies and biomarker discovery. This study examined the homogeneity of the metabolic profile in liver of Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758)) using a NMR-based metabolomics approach. For the analysis, whole liver samples were cut into four parts along the direction of gall bladder and at right angles to this, and metabolites in each part of the liver were extracted and analyzed by multivariate and univariate data analyses. Although the multivariate model was not significant due to variation within the data, the metabolic differences in polar portion of liver extract between the parts were seen, indicating non-homogeneity of Arctic char liver. Therefore, when sampling fish liver for further metabolomics studies, this heterogeneity should be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trophic ecology (diet and head morphology) and migration patterns of two closely related salmonid fishes, Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758)) and Dolly Varden ( Salvelinus malma (Walbaum, 1792)), were examined in tributaries of Lake Aleknagik, southwestern Alaska, to test for differentiation between species. Schoener's index of proportional overlap and multivariate analyses of diets suggested that these species had significantly different trophic niches. Arctic char and the largest individuals of both species had the most diverse diets, and sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum, 1792)) eggs dominated the diet of both species, especially Arctic char. Arctic char had larger jaws and wider heads than Dolly Varden of similar body length, which may contribute to interspecific diet difference. The species also differed in migration patterns; otolith microchemistry indicated that juvenile Arctic char were produced by nonanadromous mothers, whereas the mothers of the Dolly Varden had been to sea in the season prior to spawning. The species also segregate in spawning habitat (Arctic char in the lakes and Dolly Varden in streams), as well as in juvenile rearing habitat. Our study provides the first evidence of divergent feeding and migratory ecology between sympatric juvenile Arctic char and Dolly Varden, differences that may constrain hybridization and introgression between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact zones between divergent lineages of aquatic taxa have been described from the northeastern Pacific Ocean. We surveyed samples of Dolly Varden ( Salvelinus malma) from their North American range for variation at 14 microsatellite DNA loci. After accounting for hybridization between Dolly Varden and co-occurring bull trout ( Salvelinus confluentus) and Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus), we found evidence for two genetic lineages of Dolly Varden consistent with the previously recognized subspecies, northern Dolly Varden ( S. m. malma) and southern Dolly Varden ( S. m. lordii). We documented a contact zone between the two subspecies from the eastern Alaska Peninsula to Cook Inlet, Alaska, where admixture values (i.e., the proportion of the genome estimated to be composed of northern Dolly Varden, QNDV) ranged between QNDV = 0.245 and 0.754 across about 700 ocean kilometres. Populations of Dolly Varden showing low admixture (i.e., less than 5%) were located a minimum of 346 km to the west to 1200 km to the southeast, respectively, from the contact zone. The two lineages of Dolly Varden probably stem from isolation and subsequent divergence in, and dispersal from, distinct northern and southern Pleistocene glacial refugia and substantiate the treatment of S. malma as two subspecies and as at least two designatable units under Canada's Species at Risk Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-term study in the River Halselva in the Arctic region of Norway demonstrated that movements between watersheds were considerably higher in anadromous brown trout ( Salmo trutta) than anadromous Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus). Fourteen smolt year classes of both species were captured in a fish trap, individually tagged, and thereafter registered each time they passed the trap during their migration between the sea and fresh water every summer. Annual mean survival (i.e., recovery rate) after the first entry to sea as smolts was estimated as 31.4% in Arctic char and 26.6% in brown trout. Most surviving Arctic char returned to the River Halselva to overwinter after the same summer that they migrated to sea as smolts. However, several brown trout overwintered one to four times in other watersheds, mainly the considerably larger River Altaelva, before most eventually returned to the River Halselva upon maturation. The substantial difference in movement rate between watersheds between Arctic char (2.2%) and brown trout (39.6%) is expected to be a consequence of local geographic conditions combined with different habitat preferences of the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing recognition of an important role of ecological speciation in evolution, the mechanisms driving sympatric divergence within a single population are not fully understood. We documented a series of parallel divergence events and tried to assess general regularities of the diversification of the ancestral gene pool. For that we analysed variation at microsatellite loci in populations of a highly polymorphic complex species Salvelinus alpinus from 14 Transbaikalian lakes, 10 of them hosting two or three forms: dwarf, small, and large. Our results suggest sympatric or parapatric origin of forms in all 10 lakes (in one lake, two forms out of three). Gene diversity and allelic richness of form populations are positively correlated with lake size and negatively correlated with modal length of mature fish, so that the dwarf form typically has the highest, and the large form, the lowest indices of genetic variation. The latter effect might be caused by differences in life histories, thus reflecting adaptive divergence. Sympatric forms have differently segregated gene pools ( FST = 0.030-0.497, RST = 0.011-0.440) and restricted ( m = 0.002-0.042) typically asymmetric long-term gene flow. The level of reproductive isolation among forms assessed using putatively neutral microsatellite loci is correlated with their differentiation in morphology, including trophic-related gill raker number, and with lake depth (i.e., with segregation of diets and with habitat diversity), which corresponds to 'isolation-by-adaptation' pattern. Our data suggest that the advance in speciation stage apparently more depends upon ecological opportunities of lake ecosystems than upon their age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this first study examining the thermal tolerance of adult Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) acclimated to seawater, we measured their critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and several cardiorespiratory parameters (oxygen consumption (MO2), heart rate ( fH), stroke volume ( SV), cardiac output ( Q), ventilatory frequency ( VF), opercular pressure ( PO), and ventilatory effort ( VE)) when exposed to a temperature increase of 2 °C·h−1. Further, we directly compared these results with those obtained for the eurythermal Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) under identical conditions. There was no significant difference in cardiorespiratory values between the two species at their acclimation temperature (9.5-10 °C). In contrast, the slope of the MO2-temperature relationship was lower (by 27%) in the char as compared with that in the salmon, and the char had significantly lower values for maximum fH (by 13%), maximum MO2 (by 35%), absolute metabolic scope (by 39%), and CTMax (approximately 23 versus 26.5 °C, respectively). Although not a focus of the study, preliminary data suggest that interspecific differences in mitochondrial respiration (oxidative phosphorylation), and its temperature sensitivity, may partially explain the difference in thermal tolerance between the two species. These results provide considerable insights into why Atlantic salmon are displacing Arctic char in the current era of accelerated climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of fish stock size distributions from survey data requires knowledge about gear selectivity. However, selectivity models rest on assumptions that seldom are analyzed. Departures from these can lead to misinterpretations and biased management recommendations. Here, we use survey data on great Arctic char ( Salvelinus umbla) to analyze how correcting for entanglement of fish and nonisometric growth might improve estimates of selectivity curves, and subsequently estimates of size distribution and age-specific mortality. Initial selectivity curves, using the entire data set, were wide and asymmetric, with poor model fits. Removing potentially nonmeshed fish had the greatest positive effect on model fit, resulting in much narrower and less asymmetric selection curves, while attempting to take nonisometric growth into account, by using girth rather than length, improved model fit but not as much. Using simulations we show that correcting for both entanglement and size selectivity produces accurate estimates of mortality rates, while correcting for size selectivity only does not. Our study demonstrates an approach that increases the accuracy of estimates of fish size distributions and mortality rates from survey data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal can influence the process of local adaptation, particularly when the dispersers successfully breed in the non-natal habitat. Anadromous Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) display a complex migratory behaviour that makes the distinction between breeding and nonbreeding dispersal especially important. This species does not reproduce every year, but individuals must migrate to fresh water to overwinter such that a large proportion of fish running up-river are not in breeding condition and have no potential for gene flow. We used a genetic assignment approach to identify dispersers among populations of char from Baffin Island, Canada. Estimates of dispersal varied between 15.8% and 25.5% depending on the assignment method, suggesting that Arctic char disperse at a higher rate than other salmonids. Nonbreeding individuals were more likely to use non-natal habitats than breeding individuals, thus resulting in estimates of dispersal that overestimate the potential for gene flow among populations. Finally, we parameterized a population genetic model showing that gene flow is probably sufficiently low to allow for local adaptation among populations, given realistic selection coefficients. Our results underscore the importance of understanding patterns of dispersal to appropriately evaluate their potential consequences for local adaptation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study of mechanisms structuring fish communities, mixed competition-predation interactions where large predators feed on prey fish versus those in which small predators compete with prey fish for a shared prey have been the focus of substantial research. We used a long-term data set from a system inhabited by brown trout ( Salmo trutta) (predator) and Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) (prey) to evaluate whether mixed interspecific interactions were present in this system as suggested in other studies focusing on this species pair. We found no evidence for a negative interspecific density dependence in individual performance in either Arctic char or brown trout. In contrast, a negative intraspecific density dependence was present, especially in Arctic char. Furthermore, large brown trout condition showed a positive response to encounter rate with Arctic char (related to the density of small Arctic char). The most parsimonious interaction module to explain the Arctic char - brown trout interaction patterns in the studied system does therefore not need to include interspecific competition. We suggest that size-structured mixed competition-predation interactions in different systems are realized as being either mainly structured through interspecific predation or by competition depending on species life history characteristics and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the mechanisms of density-dependent growth in Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) by comparing the energetics of growth, consumption, and activity obtained under three replicated density treatments in a large-scale enclosure (90 m2 surface area) experiment. The enclosures permitted the entry of zooplankton and allowed char to feed on the bottom and at the surface of the lake. We found a negative (power) relationship between growth and density. Char consumption rate decreased linearly with increasing density. Growth efficiency was affected by fish density in a similar manner as growth rate. Finally, activity increased with fish density and was particularly high at high densities. Our findings illustrate the complexity of the relationships among consumption, activity, growth rates, and fish density and bring further evidence to the possible involvement of behavioural mechanisms in density-dependent processes, notably by modulating activity costs with density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study over a 22-year period of first-time migrants (smolts) of three sympatric salmonids (Atlantic salmon (), brown trout (), and Arctic char ()) in a watercourse in northern Norway demonstrated that although there was considerable overlap in smolt migration timing among the species, Atlantic salmon migrated first, followed by Arctic char, and finally brown trout. The migration period of Arctic char had a smaller range and less annual variation than those of the two other species, possibly partly related to their more lake-dwelling habitat preference. For all species, water flow was important in explaining day-to-day variations in smolt runs. Water flow was most important for brown trout, change in flow for Atlantic salmon, whereas photoperiod was most important for Arctic char. These results suggest that both age and size of smolts and the timing of the smolt migration have been shaped by the different habitat preferences of these species both in fresh water and sea through local selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus Linnaeus, 1758) chromosomes were studied using conventional and molecular methods. The diploid chromosome number in the studied individuals was 2n = 81 or 2n = 82, with a fundamental arm number (NF) = 100. These differences are due to Robertsonian fusions. Interindividual variation in the number and size of DAPI and CMA3 positively stained chromatin sites was observed in studied specimens. In the case of two individuals, the subtelomeric region of the long arm (q) of the largest acrocentric chromosome (chromosome number 10) was positively stained by CMA3 fluorochrome. Both primed in situ labelling (PRINS) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that this CMA3-positive region was flanked by telomeric sequences. Previously, the subterminal position of interstitial telomeric sequences located in the vicinity of the CMA3-positive guanine-rich chromatin have been described in two other Salvelinus species, brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Moreover, multichromosomal location and variation in size of CMA3 bands have been observed in various Salvelinus taxa, including fishes with internally located telomeric sequences. These results suggest that relocation of CMA3-positive chromatin segments in these species may be facilitated by flanking interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territoriality and foraging behaviour play major roles in determining the abundance and distribution of mobile animals. To date, territorial behaviour of young-of-the-year (YOY) salmonids is typically described for sit-and-wait individuals that defend territories from one foraging station, but rarely for more mobile fish. We examined the territorial behaviour and foraging mode of 31 YOY Arctic char () and 30 YOY brown trout () in relation to ecological factors in six rivers in northern Iceland. Arctic char used larger territories than brown trout, corresponding with high and low mobility prior to attacking prey, respectively. Within species, more mobile fish also used larger territories. Territory size increased with body size and declined with increased food abundance as predicted, but surprisingly increased with rising intruder pressure. Finally, Arctic char territories overlapped more and were less exclusively defended than brown trout territories. This study shows that territories of mobile individuals may not always pertain to the same rules as single central-place territories and highlights that territorial behaviour, and its role in population regulation, may vary between salmonid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of marine prey sources for partially anadromous fishes has received little study and is complicated by considerable plasticity in life history. We determined proportional contributions of marine, freshwater benthic, and freshwater pelagic prey to anadromous and resident Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) and lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush) from several partially anadromous populations in the Canadian Arctic. Bayesian mixing models (MixSIR) applied to δ34S and δ13C ratios in lake-specific models indicated that marine prey accounted for 90%-91% of anadromous Arctic char diet and 60%-66% of anadromous lake trout diet. When these estimates were combined with proportion of anadromous individuals in partially anadromous populations, marine food sources accounted for 31%-44% of Arctic char population productivity and 16%-26% of lake trout population productivity. Although future research is needed to refine and quantify variability around these estimates, our results will allow better predictions of the effects of anthropogenic stressors on partially anadromous fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current data on the Y-specific sex-determining region of salmonid fishes from genera Salvelinus, Salmo, and Oncorhynchus indicate variable polymorphisms in the homologous chromosomal locations of the sex-specific determining region. In the majority of the Atlantic lineage Arctic charr, including populations from the Fraser River, in Labrador Canada, as well as Swedish and Norwegian strains, the sex-determining locus maps to linkage group AC-4. Previously, sex-linked polymorphisms (i.e., variation in the associated sex-linked markers on AC-4) have been described in Arctic charr. Here, we report further evidence for intraspecific sex linkage group polymorphisms in Arctic charr (i.e., the detection of the SEX locus on either the AC-1 or AC-21 linkage group) and a possible conservation of a sex linkage arrangement in Icelandic Arctic charr and Atlantic salmon, involving sex-linked markers on the AC-1/21 homeologs and the European AS-1/6 homeologous linkage groups in Atlantic salmon. The evolutionary origins for the multiple sex-determining regions within the salmonid family are discussed. We also relate the variable sex-determining regions in salmonids to their ancestral proto-teleost karyotypic origins and compare these findings with what has been observed in other teleost species in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multivariate morphometric analyses were used to examine variation in head, body, and fin shape between two sympatric morphotypes of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758)) from Lake Hazen, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. Population structure of the Lake Hazen Arctic char was examined using five microsatellite loci. The 'small' morph was found to have a larger (primarily deeper) head, larger and more elongate fins, and a deeper lateral profile than the 'large' morph. The morphs also differed in allometric growth patterns. The large and small morphs do not appear to represent genetically distinct populations. The head morphology of the Lake Hazen small and large morphs exhibited similarities to benthic and pelagic morphs (respectively) from other lakes. We hypothesize that the large morph may be adapted to high-efficiency swimming and that the small morph may be adapted to low-efficiency, high-acceleration swimming. Such functional trade-offs are not uncommon among fish specializing in dispersed or mobile prey (fish and plankton) and benthic prey, respectively. The lack of apparent genetic differentiation between the morphs may suggest that the morphological differences result, to some extent, from phenotypic plasticity. Based on these results and previous analyses, it seems reasonable to conclude that Lake Hazen Arctic char represent a resource polymorphism. Des analyses morphométriques multidimensionnelles nous ont servi à étudier la variation de la forme de la tête, du corps et des nageoires chez deux morphotypes sympatriques de l'omble chevalier (Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758)) du lac Hazen, île d'Ellesmere, Nunavut, Canada. Nous avons déterminé la structure de population des ombles chevaliers du lac Hazen par l'examen de cinq locus microsatellites. Le morphotype « petit » possède une tête plus grosse (surtout plus haute), des nageoires plus grandes et plus allongées et un profil latéral plus élevé que le morphotype « grand ». Les morphotypes diffèrent aussi par leurs patrons de croissance allométrique. Les morphotypes petit et grand ne semblent pas représenter des populations génétiquement distinctes. La morphologie de la tête des morphotypes petit et grand du lac Hazen rappelle les morphotypes (respectivement) benthique et pélagique décrits dans d'autres lacs. Nous émettons l'hypothèse selon laquelle le grand morphotype peut être adapté à la nage de grande efficacité et le petit morphotype l'est à la nage de faible efficacité, mais d'accélération rapide. De tels compromis fonctionnels ne sont pas rares chez les poissons qui se spécialisent respectivement pour les proies dispersées ou mobiles (poissons et plancton) et pour les proies benthiques. L'absence apparente de différenciation génétique entre les morphotypes peut laisser croire que les différences morphologiques proviennent, dans une certaine mesure, de la plasticité phénotypique. D'après nos résultats et des analyses antérieures, il semble raisonnable de conclure que les ombles chevaliers du lac Hazen présentent un polymorphisme basé sur les ressources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the family Salmonidae, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are considered the least tolerant of salt water. There are, however, sporadic reports of lake trout in coastal, brackish habitats in the Canadian Arctic. Otolith microchemistry analyses conducted on lake trout and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from four Arctic lakes in the West Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, Canada, revealed that 37 of 135 (27%) lake trout made annual marine migrations. Anadromous lake trout were in significantly better condition (K = 1.17) and had significantly higher C:N ratios (3.71) than resident lake trout (K = 1.05 and C:N = 3.34). Anadromous lake trout also had significantly higher δ15N (mean = 16.4‰), δ13C (mean = –22.3‰), and δ34S (mean = 13.43‰) isotope ratios than resident lake trout (means = 12.84‰, –26.21‰, and 1.93‰ for δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S, respectively); results were similar for Arctic char and agree with results from previous studies. Mean age of first migration for lake trout was 13 years, which was significantly older than that for Arctic char (5 years). This could be a reflection of size-dependent salinity tolerance in lake trout, but further research is required. These are the first detailed scientific data documenting anadromy in lake trout. Dans la famille des Salmonidae, ce sont les touladis (Salvelinus namaycush) qui sont considérés les moins tolérants à l’eau salée. On signale néanmoins de temps à autre la présence de touladis dans les habitats côtiers et saumâtres de l’Arctique canadien. Des analyses microchimiques des otolithes faites sur des touladis et des ombles chevaliers (Salvelinus alpinus) de quatre lacs arctiques dans la région du Kitikmeot occidental au Nunavut, Canada, montrent que 37 de 135 (27 %) touladis avaient fait des migrations annuelles en mer. Les touladis anadromes sont en significativement meilleure condition (K = 1,17) et possèdent un rapport C:N (3,71) relativement plus élevé que les touladis résidants (K = 1,05 et C:N = 3,34). Les touladis anadromes ont aussi des rapports d’isotopes δ15N (moyenne = 16,4 ‰), δ13C (moyenne = –22,3 ‰) et δ34S (moyenne = 13,43 ‰) plus élevés que ceux des touladis résidants (moyennes de 12,84 ‰, –26,21 ‰ et 1,93 ‰ pour respectivement δ15N, δ13C et δ34S); les résultats sont semblables chez les ombles chevaliers et concordent avec ceux des études antérieures. L’âge moyen de la première migration chez le touladi est de 13 ans, ce qui est significativement plus tard que chez l’omble chevalier (5 ans). Cela pourrait refléter une tolérance à la salinité reliée à la taille chez le touladi, mais il faut des recherches supplémentaires sur le sujet. Nos résultats représentent les premières données scientifiques détaillées sur l’anadromie chez le touladi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity rate of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) held in 90 m2 littoral enclosures were estimated using bioenergetic (with consumption estimated using stable caesium, 133Cs) and behavioural approaches (with fish movements quantified using video cameras). We found no statistically significant difference between values of activity rate obtained using the two approaches for three of the six experiments we performed. However, there was no relationship between estimates of activity rate obtained using the two approaches. Discrepancies may arise from the difficulty to meet assumptions regarding the temporal stability of the concentration of 133Cs in fish diet and of the assimilation coefficient of this tracer. When fish remain in an area where their behaviour can be well described (e.g., enclosure, habitat patches of littoral zones, coral reefs), the behavioural approach appears more robust to estimate activity rate because it depends most on a variable that is easiest to estimate (the number of movements performed). When these conditions are not met (low fish densities or major fish migrations), a reliable assessment of the concentration and assimilation of 133Cs in stomach contents appears critical to implement the bioenergetic approach based on this tracer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that the antipredator responsiveness of fish degenerates through generations in captive breeding. However, detailed knowledge of the underlying mechanism is still largely lacking. We tested the hypothesis that hatchery fish supposedly selected for faster growth in the hatchery environment are bolder towards predators than their slower-growing conspecifics. This was examined by comparing the antipredator behavior of predator- naïve fast- and slow-growing individuals of a captive-bred Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) population to chemical cues from natural predators burbot (Lota lota) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). As behavioral responses depended on char body size, we compared boldness towards predators of size-matched fast- and slow-growing char. We found no differences in four behavioral antipredator traits between size-matched groups of fast- and slow-growing char. According to these results, boldness to predator cues is not related to individual growth rate in captive-bred Arctic char. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical models predict that subordinate males should have higher sperm velocity to compensate for their disadvantaged mating role and because they experience sperm competition more frequently than dominant males. Differences in mean velocity between sperm of dominants and subordinates in the predicted direction are also documented for a few species, including the Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L., 1758). Yet, this difference in mean velocity does not imply that the fastest sperm within an ejaculate, which are those most likely to fertilize eggs, swim faster in subordinates than in dominants. We studied the 5% and 10% fastest sperm cells in ejaculates of dominant and subordinate Arctic char. Before individuals attained their status, there were no differences in velocity between the fastest sperm of males that later became dominant or subordinate. Yet, after establishment of social position, subordinates showed significantly higher sperm swimming speed of the fastest cells in the first 30 s post activation (i.e., at 15, 20, and 30 s post activation). Males that became subordinates showed no change in sperm speed of the fast cells compared with those at pre-trial levels, whereas males that became dominant reduced the speed of their sperm (15 s post activation) compared with those at pre-trial levels. Our results suggest that males which attain social dominance are unable to maintain high sperm velocity, even among the small fraction of the fastest cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) migrate to seawater every summer for feeding and spend the rest of the year overwintering in fresh water. We investigated whether annual seawater migration is preceded by changes in hyposmoregulatory capacity, intermediary metabolism, and the plasma levels of hormones known to play a role in salmonid seawater preadaptation (smoltification). Wild, anadromous Arctic char were sampled in their overwintering lake in April and May and during the period of downstream migration in June. Our results demonstrate a fourfold seasonal increase in gill Na+/K+ ATPase activity, with maximum levels in descending migrants that also displayed prime hyposmoregulatory capacity. Hepatosomatic index and activities of key liver enzymes also increased during spring, indicating a general increase in liver metabolic capacity. These changes were accompanied by increased plasma cortisol and thyroxine levels, decreased plasma growth hormone levels, and unchanged plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine. Our results indicate that wild, anadromous Arctic char resmoltify every spring, and this involves a shift from an energy-conserving overwintering state to a state where they become osmotically and metabolically prepared for their annual feeding migration to seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]